Today we will be reading excerpts from Solomon’s famous words in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NLT).

For everything there is a season,

A time for every activity under heaven.

A time to be born and a time to die.

A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh.

A time to grieve and a time to dance.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

A time to search and a time to quit searching.

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

In this famous scripture Solomon is reflecting on the predictable seasons in our life. One thing that we can be sure of is that things change, seasons ebb and flow.

How do you go through your life? Do you try to hold on to the good seasons with all your might? Do you try to rush past the troubled season with everything that you are? It’s important to pay attention to the push and pull, the give-and-take, the good and bad that everyone will experience in their life.

Listen again to the first verse in this passage this time from the King James version.

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven.

In this translation the word ‘season’ is related with the word ‘purpose'.

Can you look at something good in your life and recognize that it’s a season that has purpose, be grateful for it, but don’t hold on too tight as if it will last forever?

Is there something that you’re facing right now that is a real struggle, can you acknowledge the struggle has purpose and also recognize that it won’t last forever?

God takes us through ups and downs, all to serve a purpose. Calling us to anchor ourselves in the one thing that never changes, his great love and faithfulness to his children.

Father, Help me to not hold on too tightly to the good seasons, not to rush out of the difficult ones. Allow me to sense your purpose in all of them and hold tightly to you. Thank you that you never change although everything around me will.

As above, so below.

Proverbs 27:1

Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

How many days do we try to have everything mapped out? What we’re gonna do, what our kids are going to do, then what we’re gonna do after that? Nobody knows how much time we actually have available to us. As you reflect on your life, can you look back and notice time that you wish you had back? Time that you foolishly spent pursuing some thing that you had no control over?

Listen again to this passage this time for the Message Bible.

Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.

Being self-assured seems to be the ‘name of the game’ in this culture in which we live. This passage suggest the opposite. ‘Don’t be so sure’, but rather the hold things with a loose hand.

Think about something in your life that was completely unexpected. It may be a good thing, it may be a tragic thing. Regardless of that situation being good or bad, one thing is for sure, it wasn’t in your plan.

God calls us to simple living, a surrendered life. A trusting posture. He says all things work together for good for those who trust God.

Is there something in your life right now that you feel fairly sure is going to happen good or bad?

Can you surrender that, let go of being sure and accept that you will take things as they come?

Maybe more often we just need to take a deep breath, yield to the flow of life, so that we can be present in the moments that we don’t get back.

Father, I recognize that you hold all things in your hands. I am grateful for all the gifts you give, all the challenges you take me through. Help me to loosen my grip on feeling like I have to have everything all mapped out. As above, so below.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Yesterday we focused on embracing the feelings that freedom brings and living from that sense of security. In today’s passage, Paul directs us towards actions not feelings. He suggests 3 choices for us to make.

Be joyful in hope. Another word for hope is expectant. Will you choose to show joy because your are expectant that God will come through?

Be patient in affliction. Another word for patience is acceptance. Will you choose to accept - to not fight - affliction or trouble?

Be faithful in prayer. Faithful can be defined as loyal and committed. Will you be loyal and committed to praying?

Listen again to this passage, this time from the Message Bible

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

What personal hope do you have for yourself can you choose to be joyful and excited about right now?

What affliction or trouble that you’re facing can you decide to be patient with?

What is something that you need to commit tp praying more earnestly about?

God’s best for you is a combination of feeling, really knowing He has gone before you and is with you, like we explored yesterday, and choosing to follow His path by living in hope, patience and prayer.

Father, I can get so weighed down by all the troubles and concerns around me. Help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and trouble, and committed to continually praying. I know you want what’s best for me, help me to choose what’s best for me too. As above so below.

Psalm 34:4-7 (NIV)

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.

What does it mean to be radiant? The Psalmist says “those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame. As we get older, some would call wiser, we also get our views blurred by man’s measurement of self. Often we can become so consumed with appearances, responsibilities and expectations that we forget that we have actually been freed from all of that.

What would our response be if someone paid off all of our debt, took away all of our stress, took away any reason for us to ever worry again. I suspect we would look radiant. We might even look a little crazy… Wouldn’t living with that realization do something to those closest to us, wouldn’t that kind of freedom be contagious. Listen again to this passage and view yourself from the writers perspective.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.

How does it feel to carry no shame?

How does it feel to know that God saves you from all your troubles?

How does it feel to know that the angel of the Lord encamps around you?

How does it feel to know that God will deliver you?

Let’s make those feelings the reality that we live from today, and everyday.

Father, thank you that you promise to deliver me from all my fears. Thank you that you say my face should never be covered with shame. Thank you that you deliver me from all my troubles and that your angels camp around me. Help me to be radiant, shining the grace that you give me to others. As above, so below.

Proverbs 3:1-12 NLT

My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

In this passage, and throughout the Bible, the writer refers to the reader as ‘my child’. Returning to a position where we don’t have everything figured out on our own seems to be a common theme throughout scripture.

Listen to this passage again from the mindset and the position of your heart of returning to the perspective of a child, with much to learn, not having everything figured out.

My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:1-12 NLT)

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding’ pretty much sums up what this is saying.

Is there an area in your life that you have been leaning primarily on your own understanding? Can you do what this passage suggests, ‘seek him in all that you do and he will show you which path to take’? Letting go of the preconceived idea that you are required to have this all figured out on your own is foundational in living with the abandon of childlike innocence, living with a healthy sense of dependency and trust in your Father who goes before you.

Let’s pray: Father, help me to surrender my natural way of looking at things, that I have to have everything figured out. Help me to lean on You, help me to seek You in all that I do as I trust you to show me which path to take. As above, so below.”

Proverbs 2:1-8 NLT

My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

As we look around in our culture today, it’s getting harder and harder to find those who truly treasure God’s commands, those who seek them like hidden treasures.

Let me ask you … do you want to gain the knowledge of God? Would you like a treasure of common sense and to have your integrity be like a shield to protect your life? For your path to be guarded and your life protected?

Let’s personalize Solomon’s words for us today, as our declaration:

I WILL listen to what You say, and WILL treasure Your commands. I WILL tune my ears to wisdom, and WILL concentrate on understanding. I WILL cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. I WILL search for them as I would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then I will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and I will gain knowledge of God. For the Lord grants me wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to me as I am honest. He is a shield to me as I walk with integrity. He guards my path to be just and protects me as I am faithful to him. (Proverbs 2:1-8 NLT)

Gods wisdom is the only treasure worth seeking. Treasure available to us freely, upon asking. Relying on our understanding is futile when living a committed life in Christ. What is one area of your life that you can bring before the Lord today and ask for His wisdom to guide you?

Let’s pray together: “Father, guide me to align my life priorities with You and Your ways and Your will. Take my life, all I have and don’t have, all I want and all I need and help me to seek You as my Treasure to find contentment and satisfaction in my life. As above, so below.”

LUKE 18:15-17 NLT

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

I remember someone saying to me once when I was in school… Grow up… Since that time I’ve spent most of my time doing that. Growing up. Getting mature. Being responsible. Today, in this passage Jesus confronts that idea, and instead offers us an opportunity to return to how we were made.

All of us started out as infants, then children. Somehow along the way we’ve lost the beauty of that innocence, the wonder of the world around us, the joy of discovery and the faith that is simple.

What would it look like to confound your daily routine and structure and instead take on a mindset of a child? Content. Curious. No fear. It seems in this passage that God is calling us to live with the simple abandon of a child, listen again as I read part of this passage and notice that not only is Jesus suggesting that the kingdom of God is about a child like mindset, but also, He is refuting what the adults are saying the kingdom is like.

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Can you let go? Even if it’s just for 10 minutes and allow yourself to experience the beauty and wonder of knowing that all that you need is freely given to you, and is not reliant on your efforts.

Trusting in your Good father who asks you to just come to him with the innocence of a child.

Father, help me put aside my belief that I need to grow up, clean up, have it all together to come to you. Thanks you for encouraging me to live with the fearless abandon of a child, with You as my Father. As above, so below.

For our final day this week, we are going to read a tough passage, but we’ll also turn it around and end on a bright spot. Paul shared these words with Timothy in his second letter, chapter 3, verses 1-5:

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

When you heard these words, did it sound like something from today’s news feed? Love only themselves and their money? Boastful? Proud? Scoffing at God? Disobedient? Ungrateful? Nothing is sacred? This is exactly why God’s Word is timeless and always current.

Again we see how the love self, pride, pleasure and the pursuit of wealth is associated with a lack of godly character. The last verse even says the religious people will reject God’s power.

Now, let’s take Paul’s words, and as what would be in line with many of his other passages such as 1 Corinthians 13, for example, turn the phrases around to encourage ourselves to follow God and pursue Him, not the things of this world, to see our money merely as a means, not an end.

For people must love God and not their money. They must not boast and be proud, or scoff at God, be disobedient to their parents, yet be grateful. Consider everything sacred. Be loving and forgiving; never slander others and always have self-control. Never be cruel. Love what is good. Never betray friends, be reckless, puffed up with pride, or love pleasure rather than God. Don’t act religious, and reject the power that can make us godly. Hold strong to people like that!

Pray with me: “Lord Jesus, thank You that You provide us with all that is good in this world and allow us the ability to stay away from what is harmful to us. There is always that choice. Thank You that You died to give us that choice. Help me to follow You and make my money a means, not an end. As above, so below.”

1 Timothy 6:6-12 NLT

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. … so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.

A consistent theme throughout Scripture is placing focus on God, His goodness, and His grace while staying away from the attraction of the world and sin. Simply reading the news every day gives us plenty of evidence that money and power do not make people happy and content. Suicide, depression, anxiety, and the like have little to do with the state of income but rather the state of mind.

Let’s do an honest inventory. Knowing that ‘money’ represents security, prestige, pleasure. What is an area of your life that your focus has been the ‘craving’ of money, and what it represents, as the scripture calls it?

Listen once again, this time focusing only on the “do” verses, not the “dont's”: 

Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. … Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. (1 Timothy 6:6-12 NLT)

As we often talk about here, focusing only on the dont's is not sustainable. We need to replace the dont's with the do's. Can you focus today on pursuing these things, not just staying away from the temptations of wealth? Pursue righteousness, love, perseverance, gentleness?

Let’s pray: “Father, teach me to be content. Help me to pursue righteousness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness as I fight the good fight for my faith in You. As above, so below.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Now, first things first … there is a strong likelihood that you, like me, read a passage like this and think, “Well, this doesn’t apply to me because I’m not rich.” But the reality is this: When you take the history of the world into consideration and the great affluence of the western culture, in light of the rest of the world, we are rich. The people in third world nations would love to have even what the worst neighborhoods in our cities have. Just being able to access clean water would feel like a luxury to so many in our world. So, in light of when we live and where we live, being “rich” is relative. Perspective and worldview are vital to interpreting Scripture.

With those thoughts in mind, listen again to today’s passage from the Message Bible:

Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage—to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19 NLT)

Verse 17 shows us the principle of stewardship once again. Our trust should be in God who richly gives and money should be used for good works and generosity to share with those in need.

Can you recognize the riches you have? Imagine what it would be like to turn on the water in your house and nothing come out…and live with that being the norm every day. Is God prompting you about being rich in good works and generous to those in need? What would that look like?

Let’s pray: “Father, help me to not be proud and not to trust in money. Teach me to trust in You. Lead me to use money for good and to be generous to those in need and share with others. I want to store up Your treasure to experience true life. As above, so below.”